T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor is "engaged in serious talks to sell" a 20% stake in the franchise to a group led by Grizzlies co-Exec Chair Steve Kaplan, according to sources cited by Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. Sources said that a "significant motivation" for the Kaplan group in purchasing the minority share of the T'Wolves is the hope to "position itself to buy the majority stake once Taylor decides to sell in the future." However, there is "no assurance Kaplan's group would have an inside track on eventual majority ownership." Sources said that Kaplan "is partnering with" former Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien, DC United and Inter Milan Owner Erick Thohir and Indonesian coal magnate Handy Soetedjo. Kaplan "would need to divest" his ownership stake in the Grizzlies to complete a T'Wolves deal. Meanwhile, Levien "has been a part of constructing two majority ownership groups," including the 76ers and Grizzlies. Sources said that Levien in these cases "has invested far more in political navigation of the NBA purchase process than his own financial resources." He has "maintained his ability to navigate the system with strong relationships at the highest level of the league office" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/12). In Minneapolis, Jerry Zgoda cites a source as saying that Kaplan and Taylor "have been friendly for years." Taylor "declined to comment" as he left the Wolves’ loss to the Warriors on Thursday night, but he "has said repeatedly he does not intend to sell majority interest in the team for the foreseeable future." T'Wolves F Kevin Garnett "has expressed interest in owning the team after his playing days are over." Kaplan led a group that "unsuccessfully tried to buy" the Hawks last year (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/13).
